To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Administration
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Allocate three full time equivalent (FTE) Community Health Outreach Worker I/II positions and one Program Coordinator position.
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Allocate three full time equivalent (FTE) Community Health Outreach Worker (CHOW) I/II positions (salary range 342/370, class 0511) in budget unit (BU) 520, effective beginning of pay period following approval;
2. Allocate one FTE Program Coordinator position (salary range 427, class 1425) in BU 520, effective beginning of pay period following approval.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund (1160)
DISCUSSION:
The Housing Outreach and Mobile Engagement (HOME) Program provides outreach activities to the homeless population in Humboldt County. Outreach activities include identifying and engaging people who are living in unsheltered locations and working with individuals to identify basic service needs while promoting a pathway toward housing stability. Basic service needs may include assistance in obtaining personal documentation such as birth certificates and other forms of identification, applying for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, cash assistance and Social Security, completing housing applications and connecting with behavioral health services.
Outreach services are performed in teams consisting of a Program Coordinator and four Community Health Outreach Workers (CHOWS) or Peer Coaches. The HOME Program currently operates one team that serves all of Humboldt County. It has been identified that there is a need to increase the number of teams performing outreach activities to serve the whole county more effectively. This request will allocate three additional CHOW positions and one Program Coordinator to form one additional outreach team. This will allow the outreach teams to perform services in opposite sides of the county simultaneously. Approval of the positions will allow the Department of Health and Human Services to align program services with identified community needs.
Humboldt County Human Resources has reviewed and is in support of this recommendation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Allocation of the additional three CHOW positions is anticipated to cost $194,455 and allocation of the Program Coordinator is anticipated to cost $91,173 in fiscal year 2021-22 in fund 1160 budget unit 520 - HOME. After approval of the allocation of the positions, the attached budget adjustment will be sent to the Auditor Controller for processing. The budget adjustment will decrease the professional services line item to account for salaries and benefits expenditures of $285,628.
Additionally, with the passage of the State of California budget, it is anticipated that additional housing funds will be allocated to counties to support housing activities which will include outreach as it assists in identifying individuals who are eligible for housing subsidies. These funds may further offset the additional staffing costs.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations , creating opportunities for improved safety and health and providing community-appropriate levels of services.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose to not allocate the requested positions. This alternative is not recommended because it would prevent DHHS’ ability to efficiently and effectively serve the most vulnerable in our community. Approval of the additional CHOW positions will allow DHHS to meet community need, align services to future housing funds and support individuals towards permanent housing solutions.
ATTACHMENTS:
Budget Adjustment
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A